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Thread: Shaft-tailed Whydah

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    Default Shaft-tailed Whydah

    Name:  Shaft-tailed Whydah_Borakalalo National Park, South Africa_08 March 2014 BEST CR SM SH SH SH BL.jpg
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    These exquisite birds are not the easiest to photograph given the length and number of their tail feathers, so it was great to finally connect with a bird that was willing to play for the camera.

    Location: Borakalalo National Park to Kgomo Kgomo
    Date taken: 08 March 2014
    Photo details:
    Canon EOS 7D
    400mm f2.8 (1.4 extender)
    ISO 800
    Shutter speed 1/2000
    F stop 5.6
    Exposure bias +0.3

    Sharpening to bird & lens blur to BG

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    Excellent capture of this beauty Richard. Like the IQ, exposure, BG, and that the body is sharp with some motion in tail feathers. Small nit… it looks as if there is a bit of over sharpening. The pattern created on the lighter primaries I suspect is not in the original. I may be mistaken.



    Geoffrey

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    BPN Member Bill Dix's Avatar
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    Great bird. Nice head turn, good perch and fantastic tail. If it's not a large crop already, I'd be tempted to take a bit off top and left.

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    Macro and Flora Moderator Jonathan Ashton's Avatar
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    I can just imagine how tricky it would be to get a bird this shape in the frame so well done. I am not sure if the crop is a bit on the large side?? Some of the plumage appears a tad jaggy and the left foot/leg almost pixelated - perhaps a little oversharpened or maybe a combination of both.

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    Beautiful bird, nicely shown.
    Joe Przybyla

    "Sometimes I do get to places just as God is ready to have somebody click the shutter"... Ansel Adams

    www.amazinglight.smugmug.com

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    Super Moderator Daniel Cadieux's Avatar
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    What a beautiful bird!! Amazing tail with those amazing individual plumes. Well composed, lovely BG and perch. Perfect head angle. I'd sharpen that perch too...see how the bird looks way sharp compared to it (perhaps too sharp as others pointed out)...especially note the comparison between feet and perch.

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    Very nice pose and colors.

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    Thanks so much for the comments everyone. Not a large crop, just over-sharpened for web (bit to excited :)). Constant learning process for me, so thanks for taking the time!

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    Magnificent image of beautiful bird. Beautiful colors, nice details, BG and composition.Seeing the bird for first time. TFS.

    Regards,
    Satish.

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    Super Moderator arash_hazeghi's Avatar
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    I like the pose and BG, the bird looks over sharpened to my eye, with jagged edges. The blacks have lost detail a bit. It is a handsome specie TFS
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    Lifetime Member David Salem's Avatar
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    Great looking bird and you did well capturing him. The perch and the pose with the tail feathers separated look nice. Exposure looks perfect and I like the BG. Back off the sharpening a bit and You have a winner. Well done Richard

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